Traveling block



Aprifi 395% I G. D. JOHNSON I 23,562,570

TRAVELING BLOCK v Filed Aug. 20, 1945 Y Y 2 Shets-Sheet 1 I INVENTOR,

' Glenn D. Zia/1 HSQM;

I BY J P 4, 1959 v I G. D. JOHNSON 9 0 TRAVELING BLOCK Filed Aug. 20, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A 7 TORNE y.

Patented Apr. 4, 1956 f .j o,1 i1Tr;o STATES PAT NT OFFICE 7 2,502,570 TRAVELING BLOCK 7 v 7 Glenn D. Johnson, Compton, C l f.

Application August 20, 1945, SerialNo. 611,517.

' 3Claims. (o1.25.4194) v 1 The present invention relates to oil tools and particularly to a traveling block. I

' -'An object of the invention is the provision of a block incorporating novel structural features, wherein the parts are so arranged that external projections are eliminated. The average 'block nowknown to the inventor is not streamlined, but-has numerous projections extending from the outer surface thereof. Such projections may endanger workmen or interfere with the proper operation of the block.

' An' object of the invention is to provide a novel means in a traveling block whereby the lines may be readily reeved without the necessity of disassembling the block. v

-Anotherobject is' the provision of a traveling block whichpermits ready access to the interior of the block for any purpose desired, such as inspection of the parts, minor repairs,-and the like. I

A further object of the invention is to so relate andconnect the block, guard and clevis that it is unnecessary to disassemble the unit in order to reeve the block by looping the lines or to attach hooks, elevators or other tools to the clevis.

A further object is to provide a traveling block which is economical in cost of manufacture and generally superior to blocks now known to the inventor.

, With the above mentioned and other objects inflview the'invention consistsin the novel and useful provision, formation, construction, association and relativearrangements of parts, members and features, all as shown in a certain embodiment in the accompanying drawings, described generally and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the traveling block;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the block shown in Fig. 1, certain parts of the block being moved to a new position;

Fig. 3 is a transverse section of the block showing the interior construction;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line 4--4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary end elevation of the block, certain of the elements thereof being swung to an open position; and,

Fig. 6 is a front elevationof the block looking in the direction of the arrow 6 of Fig. 5.

Referring now to the drawings:

The block is designated as an entirety and in one embodiment by the numeral l, and the same includes a plurality of sheaves 2 mounted in any convenient manner, such as by providing a center'pin'3 and intermediate bearings 4. The cen ter pin 3 is held within a casing which encloses thesheaves in any convenient manner, as illustrated at 5. Details of this construction are not set forth here and form no part of the present invention. The casing which surrounds the sheavesmust of necessity be strong enough tot-provide adequate support for such tools as are lifted by the said block. The casing includes side sheave plates 6 an i, which may be cast integrally with or separable from a side guard. This side guard 8 encompasses theupper portion of the casing and is formed with transverse steps or shoulders 9 and 1' In the present embodiment the guard portion 8 is fixed to the side sheave plates, while guards H and 12 form continuations of the guard 8 and are separable therefrom. The guards H and I2 are shown as having a progressively varyingtransverse sectional width, although such a structure need not of necessity be resorted to,

in that the said portions may be of uniform section. Thesi'd'e-sheave plates 6 and I are provided with a spaced pair of knuckles l3 and M, and attachedso as to swing relative to one or the other of said knuckles are the guards H and I2 and a clevis I5. Both guards are provided with aligned pairs of transverse bores, as shown for one pair inFig." 4 at l6, IT. The end walls 20 and 2! are'e'qually spaced from theknuckle members l3 and [4. The clevis is provided withtwo spaced pairs of knuckles 22, 23, 24 and 25, adapted to be received in space included between the knuckles l3 and I4 and the end walls 20 and 2| of the guards II and [2. When the guards II and I2 and the clevis I5 are all cooperating and in closed position, as for instance illustrated in Figs. 1, 3 and 4, pins 26 and 21 are passed through the aligned openings of the guards and knuckle members and secured in any approved manner, such as by means of nuts. To hold the guards H and I2 in proper working relationship and independent of the pins 26 or 21, I have provided a stabilizing bar 28, which bar is integrally associated with the said guards at 29 and 30, see Fig. 6.

The guards l l and 12 are stepped or shouldered transversely at 3| and 32, so as to cooperate with the stepped portions 9 and H], see Fig. 4. The casing is provided with an opening at 33, which may accommodate a hook, the said opening being on the diametric center of the casing, to

' 3 the end that weight hung from the clevis is distributed evenly over the entire block. It is of course realized that sheave plates are usually interposed between the various sheaves, which sheave plates, along with the casing, carry the load.

The guards I and 8 are provided with spaced slots 3'4 and 35 which lie in the plane of the grooves of the sheaves. These slots are segmental and are enlarged at 3B for passage of rope or wire line therethrough.

The operation, uses and advantages of the invention just described are as follows: By interconnecting the guards H and I2, clevisl5 and main body of the block through the medium of pins 26 and 21, it is possible by the removal of one of said pins to allow the clevis to swing to an open position, as illustrated in Fig. 5, and likewise to allow the guard members I l and 12 to moveto-the position shown in Figs. 2, 5 and 6 to permit a ready threading of aline over the sheaves without disassembling the block as is necessary in ordinary constructions. The workman is permitted direotaccess to the sheaves without interference. It is a simple matter to swing the guards H and 12 from the position of Fig. 2 to that of Fig. l, as well as to move the clevisand permit the pin 21 to be reinserted through the knuckles and secured. It is quite impossible for a wire line or rope to jump the sheave grooves in a construction of .the type described, because the guards, both fixed and movable, closely confine the sheaves by being adjacent the peripheries of the sheaves.

The traveling block has a pleasing appearance due to the smooth exterior of the casing, which smoothness assures that there will be no hanging of the block when it happens to strike or engage projecting objects.

The actual threading of the line through-the block is not detailed, becausesuch threading is well understood in the art.

I claim:

1. In a traveling block, a casing having a pair of spaced apart side sheave plates,-sheaves mounted .for rotation between said side sheave plates, a. fixed guard for the upper half of said casing, secured between said side sheave plates, said fixed guard provided with slots lying in the plane of. said sheaves, a movable guard, a-pin for swinginglymounting the movable guard to the lower portion .of the casing and forming a smooth surraced continuation of the fixed guard, and a clevis carried by said pin.

ermost sides of the clevis knuckles and forming a smooth surfaced continuation of the fixed guard; and means passed through the knuckles, and last named pair of guards for maintaining the same in working relationship.

3. In a traveling block, a casing the external 1 surface of which is substantially free of all obstruction, said casing having a pair of spaced apart side sheave platesbetween which-sheaves are mounted forrotation, fixed guards forminga continuationci the side sheave plates, and'enclosing the upper diametric half of said sheaves, a pair of movable guards enclosing :the lowerdiametric half of said sheaves and forming a smooth surfaced continuation of the fixed guard, :a knuckle depending from each side sheave plate, a clevis provided with a spaced pair of knuckles between which are positioned the knuckles of-the side sheave plates; a stabilizingbar secured between said movable; guards; said. movable guards being enlarged in the. zone of the knucklesto overlie the sides of said knuckles, and bolts passed between the movableguardsand through the knuckles for securing the same working relationship, and-whereby removal .of one of said bolts permits :the clevis to be swung downwardly for access thereto, and likewise permits the movable guards to be separated from the casing to permit access to the sheaves.

GLENN D. JOHNSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED *STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 765,475 Gilchrist July 19,. .1904 1,577,804 Minor Mar..23,.1926 1,671,9135 McKissick May, 29,1928 1,739,847 Linn .Dec... 1.7,. 1929 1,933,011 Greve .Oct. .31, 19,33 

